BART unions give notice of strike

Updated 4:53 pm, Friday, June 28, 2013

Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

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Commuters load the ferry to San Francisco at the Alameda Harbor Bay Terminal in Alameda, Calif., on Friday, June 28, 2013. Bart has a Sunday night deadline to reach agreements before the workers' current contract expires. Commuters are bracing for alternative transportation in case of a Bart strike. less

Commuters load the ferry to San Francisco at the Alameda Harbor Bay Terminal in Alameda, Calif., on Friday, June 28, 2013. Bart has a Sunday night deadline to reach agreements before the workers' current ... more

Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

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Jeff Pittelkau (right), who lives walking distance from the Jack London Square Terminal in Oakland, Calif., takes his regular early morning commute to San Francisco on Friday, June 28, 2013. Bart has a Sunday night deadline to reach agreements before the workers' current contract expires. Jeff will either take the ferry (if not backed up) or resort to driving in case of a Bart strike. less

Jeff Pittelkau (right), who lives walking distance from the Jack London Square Terminal in Oakland, Calif., takes his regular early morning commute to San Francisco on Friday, June 28, 2013. Bart has a Sunday ... more

Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

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David Truong who boarded the ferry at Alameda Harbor Bay Terminal in Alameda, Calif., does his morning stretch before reaching the Ferry building in San Francisco on Friday, June 28, 2013. Bart has a Sunday night deadline to reach agreements before the workers' current contract expires. Commuters are bracing for alternative transportation in case of a strike. less

David Truong who boarded the ferry at Alameda Harbor Bay Terminal in Alameda, Calif., does his morning stretch before reaching the Ferry building in San Francisco on Friday, June 28, 2013. Bart has a Sunday ... more

Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

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Train opperator Justin Hatt makes an announcement to commuters on his packed SFO bound train as it sits delayed at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland.

Train opperator Justin Hatt makes an announcement to commuters on his packed SFO bound train as it sits delayed at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland.

Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle

BART unions give notice of strike

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Consider yourselves warned: BART unions officially gave notice late Thursday night that they could shut down the transit system when their contracts expire at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Union officials did not elaborate on their decision, saying they would provide more details about their decision Friday at a 10 a.m. press conference.

Union representatives gave the 72-hour notice, which is not required, as a courtesy to passengers so they could plan ahead. The notice does not guarantee that employees will strike at midnight.

The unions representing train operators, station agents, mechanics, maintenance workers and professional staff want BART to give them a raise and to protect their health care and pension benefits.

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While ridership on BART has reached 400,000, generating an operating surplus, the agency has said it needs to trim costs to pay for $16 billion in major system upgrades over the next 10-15 years.

Regional transportation officials are warning the public that a strike would lead to thousands more cars crowding the freeways and bridges, particularly during peak hours. Commuters should delay trips or work from home, if possible, they advise. Other transit operators, including AC Transit and San Francisco Bay Ferry, have agreed to boost service with extra buses and boats, and BART is considering running charter buses from some of its stations.

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